Poll: FF surging ahead of Labour

Fianna Fáil is now 10% ahead of Labour in popular support, according to the latest opinion poll.

It suggests the party is continuing to recover slowly under Micheál Martin, and that Labour is continuing to come off worse in coalition.

The Behaviour and Attitudes poll shows Fine Gael on 30%, a drop of one point since the corresponding poll in the series two months ago. Fianna Fáil is up six points to 22%, while Labour is down two to 12%.

Sinn Féin is down four points to 14%, while the Greens are up one to 3%, and Independents and others are unchanged at 19%.

The poll also indicates Micheál Martin is now the most popular leader on 42% with his approval ratings soaring eight points in the last two months. Taoiseach Enda Kenny is on 41%, Gerry Adams on 40% and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore on 29%.

Those findings may surprise given it is just two years this month since Ireland required a bailout under the Fianna Fáil-led government in which Mr Martin was a minister. But his party appears to be benefitting from the Government’s troubles, and Labour’s in particular.